Venetian blind

ABSTRACT

A venetian blind slat webbing unit is constructed for ease of replaceability. This construction replaceability of the slat unit may serve as an alternative to arduous cleaning of the slats and webbing of dirty blinds.

' x Unite States atet 1 1 3,733,929

Logar Jan. 8, 1974 VENETIAN BLIND 2,247,260 6/l94l Stone 160/84 R [76] Invent; Andrew 555 Middlefield 31x32? iiigg; 5175:2 11: 160/168 Rd., Mountainview, Calif. 94040 [22] Filed: 1972 Primary Examiner-PetejM. Caun [2]] Appl. NO; 231,878 Attorney-M. Arthur Auslander [52] U.S. Cl. 160/168 51 Int. c1 u gog 2/311 [57] ABSTRACT Field of Search R A netian a u i onstructed f ease of replaceability. This construction replaceability [56] References C'ted of the slat unit may serve as an alternative to arduous UNITED STATES PATENTS cleaning of the slats and webbing of dirty blinds.

2,732,011 1/1956 Evans 160/173 13 Claims, Drawing Figures PAIENTED 8W4 3. 783 ,929

sum 2 or 2 VIENETHAN BLIND The present invention relates to an improved venetian blind.

In the past, venetian blinds have had slats usually of Wood or metal which may have been painted or colored to the users taste. After a period of use, dust would accumulate on the slats. The dust often was allowed to remain. Cleaning the dust off was a complicated job, either by hand, with a cloth or brush, or with a vacuum cleaner.

Most cleaning of venetian blind slats removed the loose superficial dust while a dull surface of grime remained.

A thorough cleaning required the blinds to be taken apart and carefully cleaned slat by slat, then replace 1 each slat and restring the blind.

According to the present invention, a disposable slat and web construction is provided for venetian blinds which is easily installable and easily removable, made of inexpensive material and optional colors.

Although such novel feature or features believed to be characteristic of the invention are pointed out in the claims, the invention and the manner in which it may be carried out may be further understood by reference to the description following and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a venetian blind of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of FIG. 1 at lines 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a view of FIG. 1 at lines 33.

FIG. 4 is a detail of the slats and webbing of the venetian blind of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detail'view of FIG. 1 with the strings removed, indicating the removal of the slat and webbing construction of the venetian blind of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric view of a variant venetian blind configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the slats unit of the venetian blind of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a rotatable upper flange for making clearance of window frames.

Referring now to the figures in greater detail, where like reference numbers denote like parts in the various figures.

The venetian blind 10 is constructed substantially in the form of prior venetian blinds including a support bar 11, pull strings 12 running through the upper bar 11, slat adjuster bar 13 between the webbing 14 through the slots 15 in the slats 16 to the base bar 17. A conventional slot angle adjust wheel 18 and adjust string 19 and conventional guide rollers 20 are also employed.

The'slat adjuster bar 13 includes two longitudinal flanges 21, preferably unbroken, along the bottom length of the slat adjuster bar 13, spaced away from the main body of the slat adjuster bar 13 to act as a channel into which a slat-like object could be inserted and act in unity with the slat adjuster bar 13.

The base bar 17 is likewise provided with two longitudinal flanges 22, preferably unbroken, along the the strings 12 are threaded. The threaded strings 12 usually pass through the openings 24 in the base bar 17 and are tied off as shown with knots 25 which are held in recesses 26 in the base bar 17.

The slat unit 27 comprises an upper slat 28 from which the tapes of the webbing 14 are suspended, the slats 16 and a base slat 29. The main body of slats 16 are preferably curved. The upper and lower slats 28, 29 are flat so they can accommodate themselves to the flanges 21, 22 for insertion into the upper end base bars 11, 17. The slats 16 are preferably of thin opaque plastic of optional color, reinforced paper or paperboard, or other appropriate substance. The webbing 14 need only have minimal strength and longevity. Both the webbing 14 and slats 16 need only have quality and longevity to give a good appearance until the time for replacement.

In use, the venetian blind 10 is provided with a slat unit 27. The venetian blind 10 is used until the slats 16 are dirty or worn, or the webbing 14 is dirty or frayed.

At the time when normal cleaning of venetian blinds of the past would be due, the slat unit 27 may be removed as indicated in FIG. 5 by sliding out the upper and lower slats 28, 29 from the flanges 21, 22, after releasing the knots 25 and unthreadingthe strings 12. Now all that need be done is to slip in another slat unit 27, possibly of a different color, if a change is desired, thread the strings through the slots 15 and openings 30, 24of the upper and base bars 11, 17, through the openings 31, 32 of theupper and base slats 28, 29, then make knots 25. These simple steps provide in effect, a new venetian blind 10 until the next timefor changing the slat unit 27.

The flange form 21, 22 is exemplary of holding means to hold the slat unit 27. The suggested'material for the slats 16 or webbing 14 is optional depending upon the requirement.

Another desirable embodiment of the venetian blind 10 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. A slat adjuster bar 40 includes a flange sheath 41 with flanges 42, 43 integrally joined and including openings 44 for the strings 12.

The upper slat 45 is conventionally arc shaped and dimensioned the same as the other slats 16 with the exception of the indentations 46 which are paired opposite each other on either side of the slat 45.

The webbings 47 include openings 48 for the strings 12. The openings 48 are set over the slat openings 49, seating themselves in the indentations 47. Thus, in the replacement of the slat unit 27 the slat 45 is easily slid into the flange sheath 41, held by the flanges 42, 43.

The webbing 417, because of its opposition in the indentations 416, is not interfered with by the edges of the flanges 42, 43 as can be seen in FIG. 7, so that the slat unit may be easily installed. For convenience in restringing, the strings 12 may have a hardened tip 50 as shown in FIG. 6.

In the interest of uniformity of parts and a minimum number of pieces in the venetian blind 10 of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, all the slats are preferably of the same size and shape with the exception of the slat 45.

The slat 495 may still be constructed as an ordinary slat 51, then stamped or machined, or otherwise adapted.

conventionally, the slats51 are uniformly positioned in the webbing $7 with their arcs parallel. The bottom slat 52, though in the embodiment of the venetian blind as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, is held in reverse posi' tion. The bottom slat 52 is identical to the upper slat 45 and fits into a flange sheath 53 with flanges 54, 55. The flange sheath 53 is preferably jointed to a base bar 56.

The curvature of the upper slat 45 and the lower slat 52 supporting slat unit 27 tends to spread the upper and lower slats 45, 52 by the weight of the slat unit 27 to more firmly engage these slats in the flange sheaths 41, 53.

The slat adjuster bar 57 as shown in FIG. 8 has a flange sheath 58 pivotally mounted to the slat adjuster bar 57 by a pivot 59. As shown in the figure, a screw 60 with a protruding head 61 is mateable with a slot 62. The sheath 58 may be firmly held to the slat adjuster bar 57 with the openings 63, 64.

At such time as the slat unit 27 is to be replaced, the sheath 58 need only be pivoted outward where the shape of a window or window frame (not shown) would interfere with the insertablity of the slat unit 27.

The terms and expressions which are employed are used as terms of description; it is recognized, though, that various modifications are possible.

Having thus described certainforms of the invention in some detail, what is claimed is: I

1. In a venetian blind including a support bar, slat adjuster bar, base bar, slats, webbing and pullstrings, the improvement comprising, an upper slat including string openings, webbing, additional slats, said additional slats including string openings and engageable in said webbing, a base slat including string opening, and said slat adjuster bar having lift string openings and angle adjustment meansand flange means along its length to removably receive said upper slat, said webbing affixed to said upper and lower slats, and flange means along said base slat length to removably receive said lower slat, said string normally affixed to said base. bar, said webbing upper slat and lower slat and slats removable as a unit from said slat adjuster bar and said base bar when said lift strings are unfastened.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said strings are fastened by knots and said base bar includes recess on its underside adapted to receive said knots.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said upper slat is curved in cross section.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said lower slat is curved upward incross section.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said slat adjuster bar includes a flanged sheath.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said slat adjuster bar includes a base slat.

7. The invention of claim 3 wherein said upper slat incudes indentations adapted to receive said webbing.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said webbing includes openings coinciding with said upper slat string openings.

9. The invention of claim 4 wherein said lower slat includes indentations adapted to receive said webbing.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said webbing includes openings coinciding with said lower slat string openings.

11. The invention of claim 5 wherein said flanged sheath is pivotably mounted toward one end of said slat adjuster'bar.

12. The invention of claim 11 including means to engage said other end of said flanged sheath to said slat adjuster bar.

13. The invention of claim 1 wherein at least one end of said pull strings is tipped. 

1. In a venetian blind including a support bar, slat adjuster bar, base bar, slats, webbing and pull strings, the improvement comprising, an upper slat including string openings, webbing, additional slats, said additional slats including string openings and engageable in said webbing, a base slat including string opening, and said slat adjuster bar having lift string openings and angle adjustment means and flange means along its length to removably receive said upper slat, said webbing affixed to said upper and lower slats, and flange means along said base slat length to removably receive said lower slat, said string normally affixed to said base bar, said webbing upper slat and lower slat and slats removable as a unit from said slat adjuster bar and said base bar when said lift strings are unfastened.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said strings are fastened by knots and said base bar includes recess on its underside adapted to receive said knots.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said upper slat is curved in cross section.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said lower slat is curved upward in cross section.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said slat adjuster bar includes a flanged sheath.
 6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said slat adjuster bar includes a base slat.
 7. The invention of claim 3 wherein said upper slat incudes indentations adapted to receive said webbing.
 8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said webbing includes openings coinciding with said upper slat string openings.
 9. The invention of claim 4 wherein said lower slat includes indentations adapted to receive said webbing.
 10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said webbing includes openings coinciding with said lower slat string openings.
 11. The invention of claim 5 wherein said flanged sheath is pivotably mounted toward one end of said slat adjuster bar.
 12. The invention of claim 11 including means to engage said other end of said flanged sheath to said slat adjuster bar.
 13. The invention of claim 1 wherein at least one end of said pull strings is tipped. 